Review ‘Island’ concert at West Road Concert Hall, Cambridge
By Monica Darnbrough
A story told in words and music, along with works by Handel and Rutter, combined to enchant young and old alike for an afternoon concert at West Road Concert Hall on Saturday, 3 May.
The ‘main event’ was Island, a narrated oratorio for child and adult choruses, soloists and orchestra, commissioned by the Ely Sinfonia from Jeremy Harmer and Phil Toms and first performed 10 years ago.
This revival owed its performance to the vision of Jan Moore - founder of the Cambridge-based chamber choir Accorde, which provided the voices for the adult chorus.
Jeremy himself narrated the story of two children (and a dog) sung charmingly by Edmund Re Manning and Lola Hanna, who live on an island paradise that becomes ruined by drought and consequently warring factions.
The lively and tuneful children’s chorus was KJV Community Children’s Choir, whose director Lynette Alcantara took to the platform to sing one of the adult roles alongside Doug Addy from Accorde.
Accompaniment came from the assembled Island Orchestra, which included Phil Toms on keyboard (sometimes as a harp) and a four-person percussion team which supplied perfectly-timed dramatic effects to bring the island’s weather and happenings to life.
All these considerable resources were moulded together very successfully under the deft baton of conductor Andrew Foxley.
The concert began with a charming performance of The Sprig of Thyme, a cycle of English, Irish and Scottish folk songs, arranged and orchestrated by John Rutter.
Accorde’s voices blended well to give a light summery feel to the varied melodies – helped by two excellent soloists.
The nimble woodwind and sympathetic strings of the orchestra added colour to the set providing the perfect scene setter for the overall water-themed concert.
To round off the first half, Accorde’s conductor Andrew Foxley continued the theme, turning to the orchestra alone and drawing from them a stylishly rhythmic interpretation of Handel’s Suite in G from the Water Music, which was full of lively contrasts and sensitivity.
Particularly enjoyable were the flowing lines from the strings in the Minuet as well as the vigorous shapes in the Rigaudon.
Even by Cambridge standards, this was an unusual and original programme which was much enjoyed.
